In re Application of Winn

CourtUnited States State Supreme Court of Idaho
Writing for the CourtMORGAN, J.
Citation28 Idaho 461,154 P. 497
Decision Date29 January 1916
PartiesIn re Application of ED. F. WINN, for Writ of Habeas Corpus

154 P. 497

28 Idaho 461

In re Application of ED. F. WINN, for Writ of Habeas Corpus

Supreme Court of Idaho

January 29, 1916


CRIMINAL LAW-INDICTMENTS-INFORMATIONS.

1. Informations are of equal dignity with indictments, subject only to the limitations contained in sec. 8, art. 1 of the constitution, to the effect that a defendant may be only accused by information after commitment by a magistrate and that "after a charge has been ignored by a grand jury, no person shall be held to answer, or for trial therefor, upon information of the public prosecutor."

2. When a defendant in a criminal case has been given, or has waived, his preliminary examination and has been, by the magistrate, held to answer and for trial in the district court and when the prosecuting attorney, at the next session thereof, no grand jury having been called or convened, has presented, and the clerk has [28 Idaho 462] filed an information charging him with the offense for which he has been so held to answer, the court acquires jurisdiction of the defendant and of the offense with which he is charged, from which it cannot be deprived by any action of a grand jury convened at a subsequent term.

[As to quashing indictment and finding new one, see note in 85 Am.St. 192]

APPLICATION for writ of habeas corpus. Writ quashed.

Motion to quash the writ of habeas corpus sustained and the petitioner remanded to the custody.

Edgington & Averitt, for Plaintiff.

Under our constitution and statutes a defendant who has been held to answer by a committing magistrate cannot be tried upon the information of the public prosecutor when the trial court, or the judge thereof, has determined that conditions existing necessitate the convening of a grand jury and does convene such grand jury between the time the defendant was held to answer and the time of his trial in the district court, provided the defendant had not, prior to the issuing of the order convening the grand jury, plead to the information, and provided further, that after being arraigned and before plea, suggested to the trial court by proper motion that it was without jurisdiction to proceed further with said cause at said time.

Our statute provides:

"The grand jury must inquire into all public offenses committed or triable within the county, and present them to the court, either by presentment or indictment." (Rev. Codes, 7630.)

"The grand jury have power to inquire, and it is their duty to inquire into all public offenses committed or triable within the county, which are not barred by limitations." (Ex parte Sternes, 82 Cal. 245, 23 P. 38.)

J. H. Peterson, Atty. Genl., D. A. Dunning and Herbert Wing, Assts., for Defendant.

The trial court acquires jurisdiction when the information is filed. (12 Cyc. 221.)

When the trial court acquired jurisdiction it was not ousted of such jurisdiction by the subsequent meeting of the grand jury, and the prosecutor had the right to proceed on the information already filed, regardless of whether or not the grand jury returned an...

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10 practice notes
  • State v. Edmonson, No. 16332
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Idaho
    • May 29, 1987
    ...together, Art. 1, § 8 allows for alternative charging procedures which are of equal dignity. In Page 463 [113 Idaho 234] re Winn, 28 Idaho 461, 154 P. 497 (1916). Art. 1, § 2 guarantees equal rights, privileges and immunities to all persons within the state. Fisher v. Masters, 59 Idaho 366,......
  • State v. Owens, No. 12272
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Idaho
    • October 18, 1979
    ...as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended." I.C. § 19-1409(2); I.C. §§ 19-1411 and -1418; In re Winn, 28 Idaho 461, 154 P. 497 With respect to defendant's claim that the time of the alleged offense was not stated in the information with adequate specificity......
  • State v. Wilson
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Idaho
    • November 11, 1925
    ...Ex parte Hayter, 16 Cal.App. 211, 116 P. 370.) There is no doubt about the offer of proof raising a jurisdictional question. (In re Winn, 28 Idaho 461, 154 P. 497; State v. Crook, 16 Utah 212, 51 P. 1091.) "In a criminal case the party does not waive his rights by not insisting upon th......
  • Warren v. Craven, No. 38657.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Idaho
    • February 15, 2012
    ...and that an information cannot be issued if the charge has been previously brought before and ignored by a grand jury. Ex Parte Winn, 28 Idaho 461, 462, 154 P. 497, 498 (1916); see also State v. Edmonson, 113 Idaho 230, 233, 743 P.2d 459, 462–63 (1987). If, instead of proceeding by informat......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
10 cases
  • State v. Edmonson, No. 16332
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Idaho
    • May 29, 1987
    ...together, Art. 1, § 8 allows for alternative charging procedures which are of equal dignity. In Page 463 [113 Idaho 234] re Winn, 28 Idaho 461, 154 P. 497 (1916). Art. 1, § 2 guarantees equal rights, privileges and immunities to all persons within the state. Fisher v. Masters, 59 Idaho 366,......
  • State v. Owens, No. 12272
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Idaho
    • October 18, 1979
    ...manner as to enable a person of common understanding to know what is intended." I.C. § 19-1409(2); I.C. §§ 19-1411 and -1418; In re Winn, 28 Idaho 461, 154 P. 497 With respect to defendant's claim that the time of the alleged offense was not stated in the information with adequate specifici......
  • State v. Wilson
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Idaho
    • November 11, 1925
    ...Ex parte Hayter, 16 Cal.App. 211, 116 P. 370.) There is no doubt about the offer of proof raising a jurisdictional question. (In re Winn, 28 Idaho 461, 154 P. 497; State v. Crook, 16 Utah 212, 51 P. 1091.) "In a criminal case the party does not waive his rights by not insisting upon them, a......
  • Warren v. Craven, No. 38657.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Idaho
    • February 15, 2012
    ...and that an information cannot be issued if the charge has been previously brought before and ignored by a grand jury. Ex Parte Winn, 28 Idaho 461, 462, 154 P. 497, 498 (1916); see also State v. Edmonson, 113 Idaho 230, 233, 743 P.2d 459, 462–63 (1987). If, instead of proceeding by informat......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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